Farouk El Safi
Encyclopedia
Farouk El Safi is a master of Arabic drumming (bendir
, daf
and others). He is best known for his work with Page and Plant
and many of the greats of arabic music, over the last forty years. Farouk still records, directs/plays many Zaffa
and other live roles, from his home in London
.
Amongst western audiences, Farouk is best known as the bendir/daf player, on No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded
album and, live for their legendary MTV
Unplugged performance. He is the proud owner of a platinum record, given in recognition of his part in the million-plus seller, by the former Led Zeppelin
.
Farouk is a classically trained musician, with a career spanning more than forty years, he still loves to record and perform his music. With a name of high renown in Middle Eastern circles, he is well known especially in Europe
and throughout the Middle East
. Farouk El Safi has also collaborated with many of the greats in Middle Eastern music, including: Farid Al Atrache, Warda
, Sabah
, Walid Tawfik
, Ragheb Alama
,
Kazem al-Saher & Hani Shaker
. He has performed live on countless occasions, including command performances for heads of state in Egypt
, Tunisia
and Belgium
.
Bendir
The bendir is a frame drum used as a traditional instrument throughout North Africa. Unlike the tambourine, it has no jingles but most often has a snare stretched across its head, which when the drum is struck with the fingers or palm gives the tone a buzzing quality.The bendir is a frame drum...
, daf
Daf
A daf is a frame drum used as a musical instrument in popular and classical music. The term daf is used in Iran / Kurdistan for a large drum that has a series of four interlinked rings in the frame. Daf is mostly used in Middle East, Iran, Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and ...
and others). He is best known for his work with Page and Plant
Page and Plant
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, both formerly of English hard rock band Led Zeppelin, recorded and toured in the mid-1990s under the title Page and Plant. The pair re-united in 1994 and, after recording a highly successful first album, they embarked on a world tour. They then recorded a second album,...
and many of the greats of arabic music, over the last forty years. Farouk still records, directs/plays many Zaffa
Zaffa
In the Arab culture, the zaffa , or wedding march, is a musical procession of bendir drums, bagpipes, horns, belly dancers and men carrying flaming swords. This announces that the marriage is about to begin. This is an ancient tradition, possibly predating Islam.When the procession reaches its...
and other live roles, from his home in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Amongst western audiences, Farouk is best known as the bendir/daf player, on No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded
No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded
No Quarter is a live album by Page and Plant, both formerly of English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released by Atlantic Records on 14 October 1994. The long awaited reunion between Page and Plant occurred on a 90 minute "UnLedded" MTV project, recorded in Morocco, Wales, and London, which rated...
album and, live for their legendary MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Unplugged performance. He is the proud owner of a platinum record, given in recognition of his part in the million-plus seller, by the former Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
.
Farouk is a classically trained musician, with a career spanning more than forty years, he still loves to record and perform his music. With a name of high renown in Middle Eastern circles, he is well known especially in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and throughout the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Farouk El Safi has also collaborated with many of the greats in Middle Eastern music, including: Farid Al Atrache, Warda
Warda Al-Jazairia
Warda Al-Jazairia , commonly referred to as just Warda , is a French-born Algerian singer. She is well known in the Arabic music community for her Egyptian songs and music.-Biography:...
, Sabah
Sabah (singer)
Sabah , Wadi Chahrour, Lebanon is a Lebanese singer and actress.She has released over 50 albums and has acted in 98 movies, as well as 20 stage plays...
, Walid Tawfik
Walid Toufic
Walid Toufic , is a Lebanese singer who constantly made his big break in Egypt, and he is also known for performing in concerts and appearing in music videos.-Biography:...
, Ragheb Alama
Ragheb Alama
Ragheb Subhi Alama is a Lebanese singer, composer, television personality, and philanthropist. Alama began his career in the 1980s when he appeared as a contestant on the talent show broadcast Studio El Fan, on which he received the Platinum Award...
,
Kazem al-Saher & Hani Shaker
Hani Shaker
Hany Shaker is an Egyptian singer, actor and composer. He has over 461 songs in the hearts of his lovers. His first public appearance was when he sang with Abd El Halim Hafez Choral Group in "Sora", then he showed up in the movie Sayed Darwish as Sayed darwish when he was young.-Biography:Hany...
. He has performed live on countless occasions, including command performances for heads of state in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.